Velocipede frame



Jan. 1 1924 1,479,738

C. G. PULLIN VELOCIPEDE FRAME Filed July 20, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 C. G. PULLIN VELO C IPEDE FRAME Filed July 20, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 C. 6. Puma.

Jan. 1, 1924 C. G. PULLlN VELOCIPEDE FRAME Fil y '20 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 1, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,479,73 PATENT OFFICE.

CYRIL GEORGE PULLIN', OF ISLEWORTH, ENGLAND.

VELOCIPEDE FRAME.

Application filed July 20, 1920. Serial No. 397,567.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CYRIL GEORGE PULLIN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Isleworth, Middlesex, England, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in or Relating to Velocipede Frames, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in or relating to the method of manufacture of frames for velocipedes, more especially motor cycles, and has for its object to provide a rigid structure quickly and easily manufactured, thus enabling mass production to be effected with ease.

Heretofore frames for motor cycles and the like have been formed, generally speak-- ing, from steel tubes connected in various manner according to different design in order to provide the required rigid structure sufliciently strong to withstand the strains entailed on such a frame when driving the motor cycle 'or the like.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood I will now describe the same with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which: 7

Fig. 1 shows a side face view of'a preferred construction of a frame formed from pressed sheet metal; Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an elevation from the left of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a central sectional View looking in the direction of the arrows A, A of Fig. 1; Fig. '5 is a general View of a motor cycle provided with a frame slightly modified for the particular construction of cycle; and Fig. 6 shows in sectional elevation the modified form of the frame detached from the cycle.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, it will be seen that a frame 1 particularly for use on a motor cycle constructed according to this invention is a box-like structure, and

is intended to be the only connecting member between the forward and back parts of the machine, the box-like structure having an open bottom as indicated at 2 and as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The open bottom is provided for positioning the engine and appurtenant parts of the engine. The frame is pressed out of sheet steel in two parts 3 and 4 which are afterwards welded together to form the whole. frame, and preferably with a central longitudinal rib 5 on the frame. The members 3 and 4may be formed with panels such as 6 during the pressing operation which are provided for the purposes of strengthening as well as for ap pearance, and further during the said operation the necessary holes or bearing surfaces are provided for the attachment or support of the various members supported on or within the frame, for instance, an inspection opening 7, holes 8 for the fixing screws of the engine'plate, an aperture 9 for access to a crank chamber provided with a detachable wall, an aperture 10 for a two speed gear, and holes 11 for fixing screws for said gear. On the frame member 4 is also provided a swollen portion 12 to provide clearance room around the engine cylinder disposed within the casing particularly, for cooling purposes, while on the member 3 a wide aperture 13 is provided to accommodate the flywheel of the engine.

The forward ends of' the frame members 3 and 4 when united form a bearing 14 for the column of the steering member, sometimes referred to as a ball head tube, and each member is formed at its top surface with rectangular cut away portions 15 and 16, hereinafter to be referred to, and further with a semi-circular cut away portion 17 to form a means of projecting a saddle .lug into position forv securing within the frame member. On the member 3 is also provided an aperture 18 for the driver shaft of the two speed gear, while holes or bearings 19 are provided in each member of the frame for projection therethrough of a fixing bolt forthe rear stay of the machine, and similar holes or bearings 20 are provided for attachment thereto of the rear fork members.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, the frame lis as beforeformed by uniting two pressed steel members such as 3 and 4 and with apertures, holes. and panel members as aforesaid. In this construction, however, I prefer to provide in the upper part of the frame tank members for oil or fuel, The tanks are of a configuration similar to the internal shape of the frame, and are preferably fixed in position by insertion between the plate members 3 and 4 before welding, any suitable means being provided for additionally supporting the tanks between the frame members. In Fig. 6 I show in the forward part a fuel tank 21 provided with a flanged opening 22 which before welding of the plate I supported by a corrugated plate 26 in a similar way as the tank 21 is supported within the frame. The tank 24 is further provided with a transverse tubular member 27 to permit the projection through the tank of a saddle pin without the said pin coming into contact withthe contents of the said tank.

Any suitable means such as bolts and washers 28 may be provided to secure the end of the saddle pin in engagement with the aforesaid corrugated plate 26. i

When tanks are provided in the frame as described additional holes 30 have to be provided to permit the withdrawal of the contents, and for the attachment :of means for conducting such contents to the desired engine member or part, for instance, to the tank 21 a fuel cock will be attached at the aperture 30, with a pipe for communication with the carbureter of the engine; To facilitate means of filling the tanks I prefer to use cap members 31 as described and claimed in my -co.-pending application for a patent for an improved closure device for containers 3, SerialNo. 397,568.

In combination with a frame for motor cycles'as justdescribedl prefer to use a rearhfork member of whichone arm provides a-housing for enclosing the drive from the driven wheel of the speed gear to the sprocket wheel of the rear road wheel of the velocipede, such fork member being identitied; by the reference numeral 32 in Fig. 5. The said fork member 32' is connected to the upper part of the frame by atelescopic stay member 33. As shownin Fig. 5 theengine iscent-rally disposed and at the bottom'of the frame, with its cylinder towards the front of the frame, whereby a cooling draught is obtained, and the speed gear within the frame and at the rear of the aforesaid engine; I I

' Detachable cases may also be provided for covering such external parts as the sprocket wheels andfithe driving, means connecting them. The construction of'the framemay be so designed as to facilitate the positioning or removal -,of,the-engine and further to permit-the withdrawalof the flywheel and magneto without removing the main engine asting, (while the. crank J shaft can be withdrawn from the opposite side of the casing. .Aframeconstructedaccording to'this invention;;may comprise, meansbfon directing the draught for cooling purposes, and the disposal of a mud shield relatively to the frame. may increase the efiiciency of the draught. I

The framework may be further completed by other distance pieces, as for instance, for the stand and'foot boards, which together with the necessary bolts complete the structure;

Further, it will be noted that by my invention 1 construct a framework providing a substantial enclosure for all the working parts, so that for cleaning purposes the frame can be washed down with a hose With out any bad effects to the motor or contingent parts.

l/Ve have found that in constructing these frames by stamping or pressing process sheet steel of about 18 B. W. G. forms a very suitable material, but it must be understood that other materials adapted to form an integral box-like structure may be employed.

It should be understood that this frame forms the only connection-between the front fork and the rear stays of the machine which I carry the rear wheel; 1

1.; Acentre frame of. box-like construction for a motor driven Velocipede having in combination, means for supporting a motor and fly wheel within and towards the bottom of said frame, bearings for support members to the rear road wheel of the velocipede, centre frame being integrally jointed over themain part of its perimeter in a longitudinal plane about midway between its sides so. asto form; an integral structure with its base wholly and its sides partly removed and havingoneiside formed with a suitable aperture fortheqremoval of an'engine flywheel andrthe other sidewith a bulged portion forming a cooling clearance or tunnel around :an engine cylinder, the box-like structure comprising, transverse plates connectingthe side walls so as'to partition on upper parts of the frame to serve as oil and fuel tanks, and an integral bearing formed at the forward end for. the reception. of a steering column. 2

2. A centre frame of box-like constrrurtion for a motor driven velocipede having in combination, means for supporting a motor and flywheelwithi-n and towards the'bottom of saidframe, a rear fork and telescopic stay members for the rear road wheel of the velocipede, and bearings at the rear of said frame for said rear-fork and telescopic stay memhers. said centre frame being integrally jointed over part of itsperimeter in a longi tudinal. plane about-midway between its sides so asxto form an integral structure with its base .wh'olly and its sides partly removeda-an'd havingone side formed with a suitablezaperturefor the removal of an engmex-flywh'eel and-the other side with a bulged portion forming a cooling clearance or tunnel around the engine cylinder, the boxlike structure comprising transverse plates connecting the side walls so as to partition off upper parts of the frame to serve as oil and fuel tanks and an integral bearing formed at the forward end for the reception of a steering column.

3. A centre frame of box-like construction for a motor driven velocipede having in combination, means for supporting a motor, flywheel and change speed gear within and towards the bottom of said frame, a tank near the top of the forward end, a tank near the top of the rear end of said frame, bearings at the rear of said frame for support members to the rear road wheel of the velocipede, said centre frame being integrallyjointed over part of its perimeter in a longitudinal plane about midway between its sides so as to form an integral structure having openings in the top for admitting oil or fuel to the tanks, outlet orifices formed in the sides of the structure, its base being wholly and its sides partly removed, and having. one side formed with a suitable aperture for the removal of an engine flywheel and the other side with a bulged portion forming a cooling clearance or tunnel around an engine cylinder, transverse plates connecting the side walls so as to partition off upper parts of,

the frame and locate the said oil and fuel tanks, and an integral bearing formed at the forward end for the reception of a steering column.

' 4. A centre frame of box-like construction for a motor driven velocipede having in combination means for supporting a motor, flywheel and change speed gear within and towards the bottom of said frame, a tank near the top of the forward end, a tank near the top of the rear end of said frame, a rear fork and telescopic rear stay members for the rear road wheel of the velocipede, bearings at the rear of said frame for said rear fork member and telescopic rear stay members, said centre frame being integrally jointed over part of its perimeter in a longitudinal plane about.

verse plates connecting the side walls so as to partition off upper parts of the frame and locate the said oil and fuel tanks, and an integral bearing formed at the forward end for the receptlon of a steering column.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

OYRI-L GEORGE PULLIN. 

